The supply chain has been through a lot over the past few years, and the instability, uncertainty, and volatility have not yet entirely subsided. Peak season pressure in the months ahead keeps the future of the supply chain atop the list of genuine concerns for many businesses. What have you done to prepare for peak season this year?
MercuryGate Founder and Chief Innovation Officer Steve Blough and supply chain expert Phil Melton discuss market trends in the supply chain and expectations for the future.
By highlighting real-world supply chain issues and MercuryGate services, this Logistics Landscape webinar provides guidance on the state of supply chain logistics.
State of Supply Chain Logistics
To understand how to manage peak season in the future of the supply chain, shippers, carriers, and management must understand the unique situation they face today.
A July 2022 report from Logistics Management echoed these points of concern about the future of the supply chain.
“As the inflation rate hit 8.5% this spring, pressures for fiscal tightening became more acute. The Federal Reserve has acted swiftly with a series of interest rate hikes designed to tame inflation without hurting the overall economy. But while hospitality, restaurants, and airlines are recovering nicely, booming sectors of durable goods, retail, housing, home improvement, and e-commerce are beginning to see economic slowdowns and expectations of lower future inflation began to bite into current demand.”
The new normal is more than just a catchphrase concerning the future of the supply chain. It is a reality for many shippers and carriers. They continue to contend with inventory management, logistics, driver and capacity shortages, volatile markets, fluctuating customer demands, and other potential disruptions.
Prepare for Peak Season
There has been a lot of talk regarding inventory levels; some organizations have too much, some too little. Fluctuations in the supply chain and the dreaded bullwhip effect bring concerns over the future of the supply chain into focus. Address several areas of focus to prepare for peak season pressure.
- Need for data, flexibility, scalability, adaptability, and automation to deal with online shopping spikes and the ever-growing need for e-commerce shipping.
- More demand for cargo space, drivers, retailers, trucks, and specialty shipping services presents an increased risk for disruptions and an opportunity to increase profits.
- Shippers must prepare ahead of time to improve services, keep customer service high, and intelligently utilize data and market insights.
It is not feasible to get more trucks on the already congested roads. Improving peak season performance is about optimizing truck usage — finding availability, and being smart with logistics, rerouting, moving, and managing truck and driver availability.
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MercuryGate’s Response to Market Trends
Get the latest transportation and logistics landscape updates from our transportation and industry trends. Be sure to watch the webinar for a deep dive into the state of the supply chain and tips to help you prepare for peak season.
